Russia’s European song victory polishes neighbourly ties

By Aleks Tapinsh and Alissa de Carbonnel Moscow/Riga, May 29 (DPA) Russia’s victory in the annual Eurovision song contest has not only boosted resurgent patriotism but also sparked an outburst of gratitude towards unlikely Baltic friends. After votes from several former Soviet republics helped singer Dima Bilan win the 43-nation competition, a pro-Kremlin group picketed the Latvian and Estonian embassies in Moscow to express thanks.

“It’s very pleasant to hear that Russia was supported in this contest by our nearest neighbours, including the Baltic states, with whom our bilateral relations aren’t very good,” the Young Russia group said in a statement.

Past actions by pro-Kremlin groups were less friendly than Tuesday’s Young Russia event.Estonia’s decision last year to move a Red Army soldier statue sparked protests. This May, Young Russia activists burned an effigy of director Edvins Snore outside the Latvian embassy after his documentary on crimes under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin aired in Latvia.

On Saturday, however, the once-Soviet Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, gave Bilan the maximum 12 points each in the Eurovision Song Contest. It was hailed as another Russian success on the world stage.

Karlis Streips, who provided commentary for the Eurovision show on Latvian television, credited ethnic Russians in the Baltics. But there may be other affinities.

“In Latvia’s case, there may also be a cultural connection in that Dima Bilan has performed in Latvia often, although I’m not sure to what extent his concerts have attracted a (ethnically) Latvian audience,” Streips told DPA.

The Russian singer launched his career in the Baltics in 2002 when he performed at an annual music festival in the Latvian resort town of Jurmala.

In Western Europe, Eurovision voting was seen as a game of realpolitik expressed through song and dance, leaving Western Europe behind.